Brake mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l INI/ENT OR. CHARLES M COLLI/YS H/S ATTORNEY May o, 1933.

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May 30, 1933. nc. w. COLLINS BRAKE MECHANISM Filed April 28. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 muv H/SATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1933v UNITED STATES CHARLES W. GOLLINS,'OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON BRAKE mncnamsi Application med April 28, 1930. Serial 10,447,827.

My invention relates to a brake mechanism, and particularly to such a mechanism for motor vehicles.

It is amongthe objects of my invention to provide a brake mechanism in which a. large portion of the retarding or braking force required is derived from the movement to bel retarded.

Another object of my invention is to provide a brake mechanism in which the operation of a brake on one wheel is used to actuate' f a brake on another wheel.

Further objects of my invention "include the provision of a brake mechanism whose 1 action is inde endent of the direction of rotation of the raked wheel; which will not cause skidding or sliding of the wheels; and in which the braking force is proportional to the movement being retarded.

-The invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention.

It is to be understood 1that I do not limit. myself to this disclosure of species of my in# vention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the brake mechanism embodying my invention showing the rear wheel brake.;

portions of a vehicle rear wheel and mountf` ing are shown to indicate the operative rela-l tionship. .Y l Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the rear wheel brake taken in a plane 1 indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

hFigure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the brake band actuating couple taken in a lane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a side view of the brake control pulley taken in the direction of .arrow 4 of igure 1. v

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the brake mechanism embodying my invention showing the front wheel' brake;

5 Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional ble clutch member are engageable.

view of the front wheel brake taken in a plane 1nd1cated by line 6-6 of Figure 5. l

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of an automobile chassis showing the brake mechanism of my invention mounted on the rear and front wheels of the vehicle.

Broadly stated, the brake mechanism embodymg my invention comprises a rotatable drum with which a brake band and an oscilla- Means '60 are provided for moving the clutch member into engagement with the brake drum, and means are provided for engaging the brake band and drum upon oscillation of the clutch member; the brake being preferably engaged independently of the direction of oscillation of the clutch member. Means are also preferably provided for engaging a brake band and drum in a brake on one wheel of a vehicle upon the oscillation of the clutch member in 7@ a brake on another wheel of the vehicle.

In more detailed terms, the brake mechanism embodying my invention, as applied to an automobile, includes a rear wheel brake comprising a drum 2 secured to the hub 3 75 of a rear wheel 4. The wheel is shown as being mounted on the roller bearings 6 which on the axle housin 7 in the usual manner; the drive for the w eel 4 being provided (by the live axle 8. The drum differs from the B0 usual brake only in having its disk surface 9 smoothly linished to provide a clutch surface. .A diskll mounted on the axle housing 7 providesl a backing place for the brake drum 2.

Slidably and oscillably mounted on the axle housing 7, within the brake drum 2,\is an annular ringx12 carrying a clutch member or disk 13; this -dislr being dished to clear the wheel hub and drummounting, and having a im peripheral flange v14 faced with` a frictional material 16. It is convenient to mount the frictional material upon a thin ring 17 which is divided into two halves to vpermit ready replacement'," the material being of any suit- 95 able substance which will providea frictional surface capable of engaging smoothly and easily and disengaging instantly. v

Means are provided for movin the clutch l member 13 into engagement wit the drum mi in the clutch member hub ring 12.

. ner.

clutch surface 9, and to this end the yoke 18 is provided straddling the annular roove 19 e yoke 18 is pivotally mounted Within .the brake drum 2 on the studs 21 secured on the backing plate 11, and'is provided with the'groove engaging rollers 22. A block 23, pivoted 1n the free end of yoke 18, is tapped to receive the threaded'end 24 of a shaft 26 journaled in the backing plate 11. y

The projected end of shaft 26 is provided with a crank 27, which, in turn, is operated by a brake rod 28 connecting to the usual foot pedal 29 of the automobile. By this arrangement, itis apparent that a pressure applied on the foot pedal will rotate the threaded shaft 26, and cause the yoke 18 to move the clutch' member 13 into engagement with the drum clutch surface 9.

Means are provided for utilizing the turn ing movement of the engaged clutch member to operate a brake mounted within the drum 2. A brake band 31 is disposed about the inner circumference of the brake drum, and is resilientlymounted on the backing plate 11 by the bracket supports 32 in the usualman Theadjacent ends of the brake band are connected by a tension spring 33, and are also provided with the brackets 34 in which are pivoted the connecting' links 36 and 37. A shaft 38, journaled in the backing plate 11, and arrangedy adjacent the inner ends of the brake band connecting links 36 and 37, is provided with a circular face plate 39. The link 36 is pivoted on a stud 41 fxedly mount. ed on the face plate 39, and an arm 42, overlaying the link 36 and fixed to the stud 41, carries a stud 43 on which liiik 37' is pivoted. The studs 41 and 43 are diametrically arrangedan equal distance from the axis of the sha t 38, so that a couple is provided which operates to' engage the brake band 31 and drum 2 upon rotation of the couple shaft face plate 39. Normal disengagement of the brake band and drum is maintained by the tension spring 33; and in this position the connecting links 36 and 37 are. held in a parallel position as shown in Figure 2. ,i

A flexible connecting means'44, which may conveniently be a chain, is disposed about the periphery of the fa'ce plate 39 for the greater part of its circumference, vand engages the peripheral iiange 46 thereof. The chain 44 is pivotally secured at one end to theface plate ear 47, and is similarly secured at the otler end to an ear 48 formed on theperiphery of the clutch member hub ring 112. In order that the chain 44 operate .to rotate the face plate 39 inthe same direction regardless of the direction of rotation or oscillation ofthe clutch member, the chain 44'is secured to the hub `ring 12 at a point in a line passing f through the hub ring axis and tangent tio the face plate circumference. By this construc- 39, and consequently the pulley 74, in the tion it is apparent that an oscillation of the clutch member `in either direction from the normal will cause a clockwise rotation of the couple; this arrangement being clearly shown in Figure 2. y f

`The brake mechanism embodying my in-l vention also preferably includes a front wheel E ner circumference of the brake drum 49, andl is resiliently mounted on the backing plate 57 ,l by the bracketsupports 61. The adjacent ends of the brake band are connected by a tension spring 62; and are also provided with. the'brackets 63,'in which are pivoted the connecting links 64 and 66. A shaft 67, journaled in the backing plate 57 and arranged Aadjacent the inner ends-of the brake band connecting links 64 and 66, is provided with circular face plate 68.

The link 64 is pivoted on a stud 69 mounted on the, face plate 68; and an arm 71, overlying the link 64 and fixed to the end of stud 69, carries a stud 72 on which the link 66 is pivoted. The studs 64 and 66 are diametrically arranged an equal distance from the axis of the shaft, so that a couple is provided which operates to engage the brakeband 59 vand drum 49 upon rotation of the shaft 67;

this brake band moving means being similar to that described in connection with the rear wheel brake.

IMeans are provided for actuating .the frontv Wheel brake upon operation of the rearwheel brake, and to this endpthe flexible link or connectin cable 73 is preferably provided. One end oy the cable is secured to the periphery of a pulley 74 mounted for rotation on the end of the rear Wheel brake cou le shaft 38, so that the cable extends radially from the pulley. in its normal p"I tion; vthis arrangementljbeing clearly sho n Figures 1 and 4. The y('fr'tlji'er end of the cable 73 is Wrapped around and secured to pulley 76 mounted fo rotation with the front wheel brakel couple shaft .67. The front -wheel pulley 76 is secured on a shaft 77 connected to the couple shaft 67 through a universal joint 78 arranged in line with the Wheel pivot axis. The other end of' the pulley shaft 77 is mounted on the automobile front axle through another similar universal joint; this arrangement of of the front wheel.

The clutch member 13 in the rear rvvheel the pulley. shaft permitting free movement, p

same direction; and since the cable 73 nermally extends radially from the pulley 7 4, a tension is always applied 4to the-cable upon engagement of the clutch. This 4tension causes the front wheel pulley 76to 'rotate and operate the front lwheel brake actuating couple to engage the brake band 59 and drum 49; and, whether the vehicle be moving forward or backward the brake mechanism may always lbe operated to engage the brakes. Furthermore, the particular arrangement of cable 73 onv the pulleys 74 and 76 causes pulley 76 to rotate more slowly at the beginnin than pulley 74;. Thus it is seen, that, thong the brakes are substantially simultaneous in their action, the rear brake will reach its full braking power slightly beforethe iront brake. This provides a smooth braking ac tion for the retardation of the vehicle; and the braking ratio may be adjusted by varying the position of cable 73 on the periphery of pulley 7 4:.

The brake mechanism has been described in connection with one front wheel and its ollowing rear wheel; it being sufficient to say that the other two wheels are equipped in the same manner. The f oot pedalconnecting rod` f 28 is preferably connected to both rear wheel brakes, so that the clutch member 130i each rear wheel brake is moved into engagement with the brake drums simultaneously.

@parution-When it is desired to slow down or stop an automobile equipped with the brake mechanism of my invention, a

pressure is appliedto the foot pedal 29. This,

action engages the clutches in the rear wheel brakes, and causes the clutch member '13 to oscillate, or tend to rotate in the direction of the wheel rotation. As a result, the brake band actuating couple is rotated, and the ends of the brake band 31 'are spreadto eil'ect engagement of the band and *drumv 2.

Since the brake band actuating couples in the rear wheel brakes are. connected for rotation with the brake band actuating couples in the front wheels, the brake bandsin the front wheel Vbrakes will be actuated simultaneously with those in the rear wheel brakes.

In other words, the oscillatory movement of the clutch members in the rear wheel brakes is utilizedto engage the brakebands and drums in both the rear and front wheel brakes. This construction aords a simple and eilicient brake mechanism which operates.

on all four wheels, of a vehicle.

It is to be noted that, since the force for engaging the brake band and drum is derived largely from the rotation of the drum, the

braking force is proportional to the moveclaim:

tion and engageable with the drum, means for moving the band. into engagement with -the drum, a clutch surface on the drum, a

clutch member engageable 'with the clutch surface, and flexible -means connecting the clutch member and brakeband moving means and operable in either'direction of rotation of the drum for engaging the band and drum upon engagement of the clutch.`

2. A brake mechanism comprising a rotatable drum, a brake band ixed against rotation and engageable with the drum, means for moving the band into engagement with the drum, a clutch surface'on the drum, a clutch member mounted for oscillatory movement and engageable with the clutch surface, means for eecting the engagement ofthe clutch, and iexible means connecting the clutch 4member and brake band moving means and operable in either direction of rotation of the drum for engaging. the ,band and drum upon oscillation of the clutch member.

3. A brake mechanism comprising a rotatable drum, a brakeband iXed against rotation and engageable with the drum, an actu ating couple connected vwith thebrake band, a clutch surface on the drum, a clutch member engageable with the clutch surface, and

iieiribleA means connecting the clutch memtatable drum, a brake band ixed against rov tation and engageable with the drum, an actu# atin couple connected with the brake ban a clutch surface on the drum, a clutch member mounted for oscillatory movement and engageable with 'the clutch surface, means for effecting the engagement of the clutch, and iexible means connecting the clutch member'and-couple and operable in either direction of Jrotation of the drumfor engaging the brake band and drum upon oscillation of the clutch member.

5. A brake mechanism comprising a drum, -a clutch surface formed within the drum, a

clutch member slidably mounted within thel drum for engaging the clutch` surface, means the clutch member into engages for moving ment with the clutch surface, a brake band mounted within the drum and engageablel therewith, anactuating couple connected with the-brake band, and iexible means conmiy necting the couple and clutch member and operable in either direction of rotationv of the drum for rotating the couple toengage vthe brake band and drum upon engagement of the clutch.

6. A brake mechanism comprising a rotatable drum, a brake band fixed agamst rota*- -tion and engageable with the drum, an actuating couple connected with the brake band, a clutchsurface on the drum, a clutch member mounted for oscillatory movement and engageable with the clutch surface, means for ei'ectingthe engagement of the clutch, and

' means connecting the clutch member and the first pulley ,and havin .connected to vand disposed a.y out the periphcouple for rotating the couple in the same direction to engage the'brake band and drum upon` oscillation of the clutch member in either direction.

. 7. A braking mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear wheel brakes comprising means for actuating the rear Wheel brake, a pulley connected with said actuating means, a second pulley adapted to actuate the front Wheel brake, and a flexible link having one end connected to and extending radially of the other end ery of the second pulley.

8. A brake mechanism comprising a rotatable drum, a brake band vengageable with the'drum, means including a circular plate for moving the band into engagement with the drum, a clutch surface on the drum, a

"clutch member mounted for oscillatory move' ment and engageable with the clutch surface,`

anda flexible link having one end connected to andextending radially of the clutch mem ber and having the other end connected to and disposed about the periphery of the circular plate so that rotation of the clutch member in either direction operates to rotate the plate in the same direction. v

9. A braking mechanismfor a vehicle havf ing front and rear wheel brakes comprising means for actuating the rear wheel brake, and crank means connected with said actuating means and having an effective crank arm extending substantially horizontal in its normal position, a second crank means adapted to actuate the front brake and having an -e'ective crank arm disposed angularly of the first crank arm, and a link connecting said crank means. In testimony whereof, Ilhave hereunto set my hand. CHARLES W. COLLINS. 

